NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion Baseball and ULM went to extra innings for the second time in as many days, but this time it was the Warhawks who came away with a 5-4 victory on Saturday afternoon at Bud Metheny Ballpark.
Tied at 4-4 heading into the bottom of the ninth, TJ Aiken reached on a ULM throwing error and advanced to third on a Kyle Edwards double to left field. The Warhawks (19-23, 7-13 Sun Belt) intentionally walked Luke Waters to load the bases and brought one of their infielders in. The move worked out for ULM as they fielded a Jake Ticer ground ball, got the force out at home, and completed the double play with the throw down to first. Alex Bouche then grounded out to short as the game moved on to the 10th.
Later in the 11th, ULM's Matt Abshire singled to center field and reached second on a wild pitch. The Monarchs (23-19, 10-10) had two outs, but Bryce Blaser connected on a 2-0 offering from Kellen Davis that went over the head of a leaping Ticer and down the right-field line for a double. Abshire came home on the play and the Warhawks looked to do more damage with runners in scoring position later in the inning, but Aiken corralled a Michelle Artzberger fly out to left.
Down to its last three outs, ODU looked towards Maverick Stallings, Aiken and Edwards to keep the game going. After Stallings grounded out to first, Aiken drew a six-pitch walk, but Edwards hit into a 6-4-3 double play to end the game.
The Monarchs took an early 3-0 lead in the first. Aiken led off with a triple to right center and then scored on a wild pitch. Edwards then singled through the left side and moved up on a failed pickoff attempt before Waters walked, and the pair were waved home on a Ticer double off the wall in right field.
ULM pulled ahead 4-3 in the fourth thanks to a Jake Haggard two-RBI double and an Abshire two-run home run to left. Fast forward to the bottom of the sixth where Kenny Levari singled up the middle and Steven Meier was hit by pitch to put two on with no outs. Haggard, ULM's third baseman, fielded an Evan Holman bunt attempt and fired towards shortstop Colby Lunsford for the out at second. Meier was ruled to have interfered with Lunsford's throw attempt to first, and Levari was sent back to second on the double play. Stallings tied the game at 4-4 with an RBI double down the right-field line and Aiken earned a base on balls, but Stallings was too aggressive on an Edwards infield single to third base and was thrown out at home.
Jacob Gomez (1-2) took the loss after giving up the decisive run. He allowed four hits, issued two walks, hit one batter and struck out four in 4.1 innings out of the pen. Starter Blake Morgan was roughed up for three runs on two hits and a walk. He finished with three strikeouts and also plunked one batter in 3.1 innings pitched. Ben Moore recorded six strikeouts and was responsible for one run on two hits over 2.2 frames.
Edwards led ODU at the plate, batting 3-for-6 with a double and a run scored. Ticer (1-for-4) doubled, collected two RBIs and was hit by pitch, Stallings (1-for-4) also doubled, walked and drove in a run, Aiken (1-for-4) tripled, walked twice and scored once, and Meier (1-for-4) wore a pitch. Levari (1-for-5) pushed his hit streak to 13 games and came around once, and Bouche (1-for-5) had the team's other hits. Waters did not collect a hit, but drew three walks, stole a bag and contributed a run.
The teams will be back at The Bud for some early baseball tomorrow as Sunday's rubber match is scheduled for a 10:30 a.m. start.
Monarchs Fall 5-4 in Extras as ULM Evens the Series
